How do I join the choir?
When can I join the choir?
How much does it cost to join the choir?
Does the choir have an attendance policy?
What attire is required for the concerts?
Why do I need to take notes in the music during rehearsal?
How many members serve on the board of directors?
How is the Board of Directors selected?
How often does the Board of Directors meet?
If I have an idea that I’d like the Board
to consider, what is the best way to communicate that idea?
Who selects the choir's music?
How to I go about getting tickets for friends and
family to our concerts?
Is it appropriate to bring children to Lawrence
Civic Choir concerts?
Where does the choir perform?
Do we need to provide our own black folders for the
concert?
If I am enrolled in a college or university,
can I get credit hours for participation in the Lawrence Civic Choir?
What sources of income does the choir have, and what
expenses or payments must come out of that income?
What are those grocery certificates I hear about?
Do I need to practice outside of rehearsals?
Who records each concert?
Who maintains the choir's website?
Can I get a Lawrence Civic Choir T-Shirt or Water Bottle?
What if I have to drop out of the choir mid-semester?
How do I join the choir?
You may sign up at our first rehearsal of the semester, usually in mid to late August and mid-January. If you miss the first rehearsal, come to the second – you can catch up. Formal auditions are not required, but singers should be able to read music and sing tunefully.
When can I join the choir?
New members are welcome to join the Lawrence Civic Choir at our first two rehearsals of each semester. Singers who wish to join after the second rehearsal must get permission from the artistic director.
How much does it cost to join the choir?
Membership dues are $30 per person each semester, due at the start of each semester. There is also the cost of the choir's attire (tuxedos for men and the black dress worn by the women), due a few weeks into the semester. If this poses a hardship or if you need to make special arrangements regarding payments, please contact one of the board members to discuss. We have a benefactor who has provided funding out of which we can handle these situations, so please let us know. It is not our intent for the choir's attire to prevent anyone from participating in the choir.
Does the choir have an attendance policy?
We ask that you miss no more than 2 rehearsals each semester. Our musical selections are often challenging and we strive for a high level of precision and musicality. If you anticipate being absent for more than this number of rehearsals please discuss your situation with the artistic director.
What attire is required for the concerts?
The Lawrence Civic choir has adopted uniform dress as of the 2004-2005 Season. The women must purchase the choir’s dress. The men have the option to procure their own tuxedo or they can participate in the group order. Pricing is as stated below. Please note that special order sizing will be slightly more expensive. All new members to the choir will be contacted by the people in charge of helping you acquire this new attire within the first 4 weeks of the semester.
For the Men: Black Tuxedos ($120)
For the Women: Black Dresses ($85)
Why do I need to take notes in the music during rehearsal?
The director often gives directions that need to be marked in the music scores. These may include where to breathe, where not to breathe, when to be extra sure to look up, pronunciations, etc. Further, you may need notes for yourself as you go along, such as circling rests that you tend to miss, marking areas that you need to be sure to go back and practice, etc. All marks need to be made using a soft lead (#2) pencil. Please assist the music librarians by erasing any marks you made before turning your music in at the end of each semester. Never mark music in ink pen. As Steve often tells us, singers don't use pencils, but musicians do. We are a choir of musicians.
How many members serve on the board of directors?
The board consists of 15 members, one of which is designated for a non-choir member of the community. Board members are elected for three year terms, and can serve two consecutive terms. Any vacancies on the board are filled through a choir election each year at the first rehearsal in April.
How are board members selected?
Members are nominated and elected by the choir. There are many activities that the board engages in throughout the year, and we depend on a vibrant and active board to carry out those activities. If you feel that you have talents and energy to devote to the choir, please let one of the existing board members know that you would be interested in serving on the board.
How often does the board meet?
The board meets monthly during the rehearsal season and as-needed during the summer months. Further, there are subcommittee meetings between the board meetings to ensure that the choir activities and events run smoothly and that progress is made on board initiatives.
If I have an idea that I’d like the board to consider, what is the best way to communicate that idea?
Please use the Contact Us link to submit any ideas that you have or talk to a board member at rehearsal. They will be forwarded to the appropriate person for consideration/action.
Who selects the choir's music?
An eight person music committee, made up of two members from each choral section chosen by the artistic director, advises the artistic director on music selection. If you are interested in serving on the music committee please contact the artistic director.
How to I go about getting tickets for friends and family to our concerts?
Tickets are available about midway through the semester and will be announced. We encourage you to invite friends, coworkers and family to join us at each of our concerts. Tickets are also available at the Lawrence Arts Center Box Office, starting about 4 weeks before the concert. Further, a concert poster in .pdf format will be available via the web site for you to send out via e-mail to your family, co-workers and friends should you choose to do that. The Lawrence Civic Choir is one of the best kept secrets in town, so we encourage you to spread the word and invite people to come and hear our concerts.
Is it appropriate to bring children to Lawrence Civic Choir concerts?
Yes. However, please remind your family and friends that our concerts are being recorded live, and that any talking, crying, or other noise from the audience has a detrimental effect on the quality of the recording.
Where does the choir perform?
The choir has performed in several different venues over the years, including the Lied Center for our 25th Anniversary concert in the spring of 2000, Corpus Christi Catholic Church and the National Cathedral in Washington DC in the fall of 2001, Central Junior High School in the spring of 2002, and Free State High School in the spring of 2003. Our 2006 holiday concert will be performed at Free Methodist Church, and our spring concert will be at Free State High School. In the spring, we generally perform an encore concert in Topeka at Grace Episcopal Cathedral, which is always fun and very well attended.
Do we need to provide our own black folders for the concert?
No. The choir has a full supply of folders. These folders are generally made available to people 4 weeks before the concert, at which time you can place your music in the folder and begin to practice with the folder. Some members choose to provide their own black folders, which is also acceptable, but not necessary. If you do provide your own folder, please put your name in it, as these tend to look alike and can get mixed up. These somewhat "fancy" folders are available for sale if you'd like to acquire one.
If I am enrolled in a college or university, can I get credit hours for participation in the Lawrence Civic Choir?
Yes. Please see Steve Eubank for instructions.
What sources of income does the choir have, and what expenses or payments must come out of that income?
The choir has several sources of income, including membership dues, Kansas Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts grants, Lawrence Arts Council grants, concert revenue, donations, poinsettia sales, grocery certificate sales, Avon fund raiser sales, and CD sales. Our expenses include salaries for our director and accompanist, costs associated with instrumentalists required for a concert, music rental, music purchase, rehearsal space rental, concert space rental, program printing, postage and printing for the various mailings, advertising, the annual music scholarship, and piano tuning. Depending on the complexity of a given concert and the number of tickets we are able to sell, some concerts pay for themselves, and others do not. In general, the choir's fiscal situation is quite stable.
What are those grocery certificates I hear about every week at rehearsal?
Selling grocery gift certificates is one of the Lawrence Civic Choir's most successful and most painless fund raising projects. Choir members can buy gift certificates that are worth exactly what they cost, then the grocery store contributes either 5 or 6 percent of each sale to the Lawrence Civic Choir. Currently four grocers participate in the program: Checkers, Community Mercantile, Dillons, and Hyvee. See the grocery certificate page for more information.
Do I need to practice outside of rehearsals?
Yes. There simply is not sufficient time during rehearsals to go over individual parts to the extent required. It is expected that choir members will spend time outside of the formal rehearsals going over their part. If you require assistance in order to achieve this extra practice, please discuss this with the director or your section leader. Rehearsal CD's are provided, and working with these CD's generally allows members to become familiar with their part.
Who records each concert?
Choir member Robert J. Vaughan has been making choir concert recordings of a rather professional nature for many years. Thanks to his sound equipment and mastering, the choir members are able to purchase a CD of each concert for $15. If you are interested in purchasing CD's of past concerts, please contact Judy Veatch.
Who maintains the choir's web site?
Katie Brown is the choir's web master, but we are all responsible for our website's content. Please use the web site as a frequent source of information, and let Katie know if you see anything that needs to be changed or if there is information that you were seeking that you could not find. The web site has midi rehearsal files, rehearsal dates and places, concert dates, times, and places, a history of the choir, some highlights from the choir's past performances that you can point your friends and family to, and many other pieces of valuable information.
Can I get a Lawrence Civic Choir T-Shirt or Water Bottle?
There are limited colors, sizes, and styles of t-shirts from an order we placed a couple of years ago and some additional water bottles from last year. The short sleeved t-shirts are $12. The long sleeved t-shirts are $15. The water bottles are $6. If you would like to buy any of these items, please see Judy Veatch.
What if I have to drop out of the choir mid-semester?
Occasionally choir members have to drop out mid-semester due to family demands, work schedules, or for other reasons. Generally, we do not refund your registration fee, although there have been exceptions. We do ask that you be sure to turn your music in to Dean Corwin so that we do not have to find you at the end of the semester.